Winners of PokeBeach’s December 2017 PTCGO Tournament!

PokeBeach’s December 2017 PTCGO Tournament is over and the winners have been crowned!

Ninety-six players competed for the title in this exciting monthly event, with the top eight players facing off in a top cut. The tournament was played in the Standard format at the time — BREAKthrough through Crimson Invasion.

Interview with the Champion

This month’s tournament was won by Fou-Link! He will be shipped eighteen booster packs free of charge, courtesy of TCGplayer.com!

Here’s our interview with him:

What is your real name, and where do you live?

My name is Ilya Kornilov, and I live in Saint-Petersburg, Russia.

How are you doing this season in Play! Pokemon tournaments?

In Russia, the Play! Pokemon season haven’t started yet. But I traveled twice to Finland and played 2 big League Cups, and recently got 4th place.

Why did you decide to participate in this tournament?

First of all, it’s free, and I really wanted to try my best in it.

[cardimg name=”Gardevoir-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”159″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

Why did you play Gardevoir-GX? Were you considering any other decks?

Since the release of [card name=”Zoroark-GX” set=”Shining Legends” no=”53″ c=”name”][/card], I played more than 1000 games in PTCGO using this [card name=”Gardevoir-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”159″ c=”name”][/card] variant, I just really like Gardevoir-GX / Zoroark-GX duo, more than [card name=”Octillery” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”33″ c=”name”][/card]. Also a lot of people don’t consider Gardy as a good deck anymore and I do not agree. I love playing the deck and I’m trying to be good at playing it. About other decks – I really like [card name=”Lycanroc-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”74″ c=”name”][/card] decks and if I would play a deck other than Gardevoir, I would play Lycanroc-GX / [card name=”Buzzwole-GX” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card].

What decks did you play against? Did any interesting techs stand out to you?

I played against Zoroark-GX / [card name=”Golisopod-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”17″ c=”name”][/card], Zoroark-GX / Lycanroc-GX, Zoroark-GX / [card name=”Decidueye-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM37″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Greninja BREAK” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”41″ c=”name”][/card] and Gardevoir. In Top 4 I played against a really interesting Buzzwole-GX / Zoroark-GX deck with [card name=”Regirock” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”53″ c=”from”][/card] in it.

What was your most exciting game or set?

Almost every match was super intense, but probably the most exciting and hard game was the finals against Gardevoir.

Would you make any other changes to your list?

List is pretty much perfect, I decided to not include any tech cards (that’s why I lost to Greninja in round 4). If I would take this deck to a tournament, I might tech [card name=”Mew-EX” set=”Dragons Exalted” no=”120″ c=”name”][/card] against Buzzwole and [card name=”Giratina” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY184″ c=”name”][/card] against Greninja. Would cut 1 [card name=”Skyla” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”148″ c=”name”][/card] and 1 [card name=”Professor Sycamore” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”107″ c=”name”][/card].

How do you think Ultra Prism affects Gardevoir decks in general?

Ultra Prism introduces some Metal support (not very crucial against Gardevoir, because new Solgaleo-GX would be legal in April), but the most dangerous card for Gardy is Glaceon-GX. It shuts down the whole deck with its Freezing Gaze Ability. Maybe Gardevoir will be viable, but it has to adapt to Glaceon-GX matchup (maybe playing Octillery instead of Zoroark and running 3 to 4 [card name=”Brigette” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”134″ c=”name”][/card]).

Congratulations, Ilya!

Here is the deck list he used to win the tournament:

[decklist name=”fou-link list” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Gardevoir-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”140″][pokemon amt=”18″]4x [card name=”Ralts” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”91″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Kirlia” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]3x [card name=”Gardevoir-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”140″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Zorua” set=”Shining Legends” no=”52″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Gallade” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”84″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Zoroark-GX” set=”Shining Legends” no=”77″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]3x [card name=”Tapu Lele-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”60″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”31″]4x [card name=”Professor Sycamore” set=”Steam Siege” no=”114″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”N” set=”Noble Victories” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Guzma” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”115″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Brigette” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”134″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Mallow” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”127″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Skyla” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”122″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]4x [card name=”Rare Candy” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”129″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”102″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Field Blower” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”125″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Choice Band” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”121″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Max Potion” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”128″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Super Rod” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”149″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Rescue Stretcher” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”130″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”11″]7x [card name=”Fairy Energy” set=”XY” no=”140″ c=”deck2″ amt=”7″][/card]4x [card name=”Double Colorless Energy” set=”Next Destinies” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card][/energy][/decklist] 

Other Top Finishers

Below are the top eight players and the decks they used:

• 1st: Ilya Kornilov (Fou-Link) — [card name=”Gardevoir-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”93″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Zoroark-GX” set=”Shining Legends” no=”53″ c=”name”][/card]
• 2nd: Shane Guan (ShinyZard) — Gardevoir-GX / [card name=”Giratina” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY184″ c=”name”][/card]
• 3rd: Austin Fernando (woahaustin) — Gardevoir-GX
• 4th: Steve Murphy (semurphy444) — [card name=”Buzzwole-GX” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card] / Zoroark-GX
• 5th: Kevin Kim (fungusbrain) — [card name=”Greninja BREAK” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”41″ c=”name”][/card]
• 6th: Arne Van Braeckel (Arneboy11) — [card name=”Decidueye-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM37″ c=”name”][/card] / Zoroark-GX
• 7th: Ilir Nikqi — Metal [card name=”Silvally-GX” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”108″ c=”name”][/card]
• 8th: Lukas Coenraats (lukas2aces) — Decidueye-GX / Zoroark-GX

Both Austin and Steve are making their second consecutive appearance in Top 8! Will they be able to get the threepeat in January?

Austin, Arne, and Ilir will all be seeing a huge increase in prizes because they are premium subscribers. You can see how many packs each of them earned at the top of this page. The deck lists of second, third, and fourth place can be seen below:

Shane Guan, Second Place

[decklist name=”shinyzard finalist deck” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Gardevoir-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”93″][pokemon amt=”18″]2x [card name=”Ralts” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”91″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Ralts” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”68″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Kirlia” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Kirlia” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”69″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]3x [card name=”Gardevoir-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”93″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Gallade” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”84″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]3x [card name=”Tapu Lele-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”137″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]1x [card name=”Giratina” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY184″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Alolan Vulpix” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”21″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Remoraid” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”32″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Octillery” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”33″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”31″]4x [card name=”N” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”96″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Professor Sycamore” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”107″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]3x [card name=”Guzma” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”115″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Brigette” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”134″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”2″][/card]4x [card name=”Rare Candy” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”129″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Max Potion” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”103″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”102″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Super Rod” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”149″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Field Blower” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”125″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Choice Band” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”121″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Parallel City” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”145″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”11″]7x [card name=”Fairy Energy” set=”XY” no=”140″ c=”deck2″ amt=”7″][/card]4x [card name=”Double Colorless Energy” set=”Generations” no=”74″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card][/energy][/decklist] 

Austin Fernando, Third Place

[decklist name=”woahaustin top 4 deck” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Gardevoir-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”93″][pokemon amt=”18″]3x [card name=”Ralts” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”68″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]1x [card name=”Ralts” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”91″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]3x [card name=”Kirlia” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”69″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]3x [card name=”Gardevoir-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”93″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Gallade” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”84″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]3x [card name=”Tapu Lele-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”137″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]1x [card name=”Alolan Vulpix” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”21″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Remoraid” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”32″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Octillery” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”33″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”31″]4x [card name=”N” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”96″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Professor Sycamore” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”107″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]3x [card name=”Guzma” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”115″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Brigette” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”134″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”2″][/card]4x [card name=”Rare Candy” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”129″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Max Potion” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”103″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”102″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Super Rod” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”149″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Field Blower” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”125″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Choice Band” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”121″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Parallel City” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”145″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”11″]7x [card name=”Fairy Energy” set=”XY” no=”140″ c=”deck2″ amt=”7″][/card]4x [card name=”Double Colorless Energy” set=”Generations” no=”74″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card][/energy][/decklist] 

Steve Murphy, Fourth Place

[decklist name=”semurphy444 top 4 list” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Buzzwole-GX” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”57″][pokemon amt=”14″]2x [card name=”Zorua” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”89″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Zorua” set=”Shining Legends” no=”52″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]3x [card name=”Zoroark-GX” set=”Shining Legends” no=”53″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Buzzwole-GX” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”57″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Regirock” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”53″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]2x [card name=”Tapu Lele-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”60″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Remoraid” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”31″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Octillery” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”33″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”34″]3x [card name=”Brigette” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”134″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Professor Sycamore” set=”Steam Siege” no=”114″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Guzma” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”143″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”N” set=”Noble Victories” no=”92″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Acerola” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”112″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Professor Kukui” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”128″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Hala” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”126″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]4x [card name=”Puzzle of Time” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”109″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Max Elixir” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”102″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Evosoda” set=”Generations” no=”62″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]3x [card name=”Choice Band” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”121″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]3x [card name=”Field Blower” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”125″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]3x [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”102″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Float Stone” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”137″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”2″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”12″]10x [card name=”Fighting Energy” set=”XY” no=”137″ c=”deck2″ amt=”10″][/card]2x [card name=”Double Colorless Energy” set=”Generations” no=”74″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card][/energy][/decklist]

In addition to all 8 top finishers above, everyone in the Top 32 also earned Prize Wall points on TCGplayer.com, which allows them to exchange their points for even more products like booster packs and promo boxes. Points are received via e-mail. If you won points, be sure to check your inboxes!

Creative Deck Winners

As part of every tournament, PokeBeach’s article writers voted for the five premium members that didn’t make Top 16 whom they felt used the most creative deck lists. Each of them earned some additional booster packs or a promo product.

Julio Penaloza, faris alwawi, Jaypenny777, TgHuy, and AngelBeast each walked away with five booster packs or a specially selected Pokemon promo product from TCGplayer.com. The decks they played were [card name=”Greninja BREAK” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”41″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Raichu-GX” set=”Shining Legends” no=”29″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Tapu Bulu-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM32″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Decidueye-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM37″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Zoroark-GX” set=”Shining Legends” no=”53″ c=”name”][/card], and Tapu Bulu-GX, respectively.

You can find each of their deck lists in the forum thread below.

Want to Become a Premium Member?

January’s tournament is currently underway. Each tournament awards up to 7 booster boxes of product to top finishers plus promo products and additional booster packs to premium members. The prizes for premium members are bigger than ever before, so don’t miss your chance to play in the next tournament! Signups for February are currently scheduled to be posted Monday, January 29th. Mark your calendars!

If you’re interested in becoming a premium member, be sure to check out this link. All premium members get reserved slots in the tournaments, a huge increase in prizes, double the amount of Prize Wall points, a chance to win even more product for using creative decks, and of course all the other benefits that go along with having a premium membership, including weekly articles from the game’s top players and deck help from said players. A premium membership is extremely diverse!

Thanks, TCGplayer!

All of these prizes are brought to you by TCGplayer.com. Their online store offers the cheapest Pokemon cards on the Internet from thousands of different sellers — you will find no better deals! So be sure to check them out any time you want to purchase or sell Pokemon cards!

You can always check the “Sets” tab at the top of our website to access their store.

(Note: The Pokémon Company International is not a sponsor or endorser of PokeBeach’s tournaments, contests, or prizes, nor does the company or its affiliates have any formal association with PokeBeach. Our activities are by fans, for fans, and are not sanctioned or approved by TPCi.)1